Whilst the very idea of this is abhorent to me I must say the idea about a standardised European labelling system is an amusing one because we all know how much better the EU standardised Fire Extinguisher system is...making ever extinguisher the same colour and putting the most hard to identify symbols on them to identify which type they are. Lets not forget that most of Europe has a much better tolerance of violent content then places like Germany and Italy.

No video game legislation should ever exist. Video games are perfectly innocent in every way and should be praised, not denounced, I love violent video games and I can't understand why people pick on such an innocent form of entertainment. All violent video games are appropriate for people of all ages and should be marketed to everyone. Jack Thompson, and others like him, need to shut up and stop trying to hurt an innocent industry. These games are good and I played many violent video games and I never committed a single act of violence in the real world. I think these stupid anti-game fanatic pigs, like Jack Thompson, do it for fame and money. Every time a video gamer goes crazy and kills some people, they immediately attack our fun and try to destroy our good times. Crazy gamers, who do crazy things, are derranged and would do it no matter what games they play, violence or no violence. Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and England need to unban all the games they've banned because of violence. No game should ever be banned because of violence. These games are good. I don't know how else to say it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Games like Doom, Quake, The Warriors, Unreal Tournament, Mortal Kombat, Manhunt, Scarface the World is Yours, Gangs of London, Infected, Blood, Blood 2 the Chosen, Bully and Dead Rising are as innocent fun as a day at Disneyland. They are completely innocent of all accusations. The accusations don't fit and if they don't fit, you must acquit!! Violence has always existed in the real world since the begginning of time and no video game has ever inspired anyone to committ an act of violence in the real world. These countries must stop their awful assault on these beautiful games. The theories and the utterly false charges must be dropped at once. Rockstar and Take-Two are awesome and should be praised, not denounced, violent video games are good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love Xplay. It's awesome and I watch it all the time. I've been a loyal viewer of that show for over four years when it was only Adam Sessler. Morgan Webb hadn't come along yet and it was Extended Play. Even though I love the show, I can't understand why they would give such an awesome game like Mortal Kombat Armageddon a 2 out of 5.

@ Silver Derstin

Actually Atlus are only the US publishers.

505 Games - a small esoteric outfit that prides itself on publishing small esoteric games in Europe that no one else thinks there's a market for - are responsible for its European release.

'mon the 505.

So, it's obvious that this move is over Rule of Rose. I haven't seen or heard anything about the game (other than one completely incomprehensible trailer on Cinematech almost a year ago), but from what I gleaned from it's Wikipedia article, it includes lesbian rape involving minors (however, it seems that the minors are the rapists). Funny that this game has been out in North America since September, yet we have yet to hear a peep about it in the States. It seems odd that something that doesn't bother U.S. politicians would bother European ones. I thought the other side of the Atlantic was the less reactionary one.

Regardless, I geniunly believe that this measure will pass or at least get strong public support. As some posters have pointed out, Western Europe isn't as defensive about free speech as the U.S. is. This probably coincides with the stubborn presence that socialism has had there for almost half a century. People there seem to put far too much faith in their governments to decide what's best for them.

Anyone else considered the possibility that the reason they're pushing for legislation at the EU level is because it effectively avoids the issue of oversight and would make any measures that are enacted almost impossible to remove?

The reason behind this is, Frattini wanted some of the spotlight after fellow Italian politicians voiced similar concerns today :/

See my comments on the story just before this one for more links on this débacle.

I'm still waiting for examples of where game publishers are marketing adult-themed games to children.

[quote]One of the latest games recently available on the European market relates to a young girl who becomes submitted to psychological and physical violence. This has shocked me profoundly for its obscene cruelty and brutality.[/quote]

So it's okay for boys, grown men, and for that matter, grown women to be submitted to psychological and physical violence, but girls are off limits?That seems a bit... off. Specially when people don't seem to have a problem with little Timmy going off to fight the horribly f-up.

You know what? I'm tired of responding with actual thought-out responses and things like that. I think I'd just like to express myself.

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!

Are any game developers actually marketting violent games to children?

Seems the industry are taking cetain steps to at least educate their customers on the type of content in the games. Now, perhaps this could be improved, and as such I support the commisioner's position, but I feel more recognition could be made of the fact that the industry is willing to do this.

*Sigh*

Stupidity, thy name is Franco Frattini...


Seriously, the claim alone that Rule of the Rose is (per default) a "childrens game", is practically a mockery of all that the videogame industry stands for today. Perhaps Franco needs a lecture about how and when videogaming in general ceased to be exclusively "for kids".

As a european myself, I now find this guy's mere Existence offensive!

I am really getting tired of this. It seems that since 9/11 politicians want to take away all our liberties. When will we, the people say that enough is enough? I really think that they are going way too far with "protecting" the weak. We should have the right to play a horror game, just as we have the right to watch a horror movie. When you don't want kids to play them, DON'T BUY THOSE GAMES FOR YOUR KIDS, geez. Lazy parents and politicians are the death to our freedom of choice.

I am an adult, and if I choose to play a violent game I should be able to. It is ridiculous for them to assume that Humans can't see the difference between fantasy and real violence. Even other animals can see this difference, so why do they think that Humans can't? Do they really think that we are less intelligent than most mammals and that we can't see what is real?

I am fear this news because Europe hardly has any protection against idiots such as this politician. We don't have a strong constitution that will protect us from hawks like that. I can't believe that they think games are such a threat to society, when they most likely aren't at all. Violence isn't something new caused by videogames. Humans have been violent throughout the entire history of mankind. And why does politician act as if people learn from videogames alone? When you are old enough and your parents have taught you the difference between right and wrong, this shouldn't at all change you to be someone else. I have played violence videogames since I was 12 (I am 30 now) and I have never beated someone up.

I hardly have any words for how I feel right now. All I can say is that I am severly pissed off at people who think they should decide for us how we should live our own lives. I didn't get born to be told exactly what I can and can't do, 24/7. I would love to have at least some freedom into deciding how to live my own life. But no, videogames are teh evilz!!

"Frattini added that the EU should explore standarizing a labeling system for game content"

PEGI, then?

/b

Given the increasing grip socialism is taking all over Europe, this comes as no suprise. I feel bad for European gamers- having to deal with all that PAL vs NTSC crap...and now this.

Quebec and the rest of Canada still seem safe but at this rate I wonder for how long. Willing to bet that Alberta will be the first province to propose a law to ban video games.

A code of conduct?

So what he means is he wants the EU to be able to censor content that they think breaks this "Code of Conduct".

YAY FOR CENSORSHIP.

Actually, the game is rated "16+" by PEGI for most european countries, including Italy, and 15+ for Finland. You can check it at www.pegi.info (search by "rule of rose").

I believe we, europeans, have found our very own Jack Thompson.

Eisenkanzler,

If you ask politicians or anti-game activists sure. Unfortunately they have no common sense-- that, or I'm just imagining the bold black "M" on the cover art pictured at the top of the page.

Really irritates me when people in the media/governments pull the "marketing violent games to kids" crap, without realizing that ratings are actually enforced on the retail end (sometimes) and that the problem lies with the parents. Just several days ago, when I bought F.E.A.R: Extraction Point at my local EBGames, they actually asked for ID to confirm I was 17+. I actually congratulated the guy at the counter for being so responsible.

I've heard of Rule of Rose... I saw X-Play's review and another review (forgot where, though) and... Rule of Rose sucks. That's what both reviews said, at least. And as an American, I can't help but feel the pain of our European-gamer-brethren. But, also as an American, I can't help but feel thankful that we have the Consitution to protect us from all these censo-cratic bastards.

Terminator44
thats because lesbians rule,put acoupel of strapping young males in it and there will be no end to the flaming.

A few points:

The suggestion of a standardized pan-European game ratings system is not as silly as it sounds. PEGI, despite the name, is not actually pan-European, covering only 16 countries, basically the "old" 15 countries of the EU minus Germany, but including Switzerland and Norway. I assume most German gamers would be happy to have their system replaced by PEGI, as the German USK has recently refused classification for Gears of War and Dead Rising, making it impossible to distribute them in Germany.

About Italian politics: The Italian government is not far-right these days, but center-left. Berlusconi lost the last election and was replaced by Romano Prodi as prime minister.

@ Brokenscope


I was being serious, but I wasn't defending pornography or rape. I believe that's wrong. Notice I didn't mention GTA in my post! I would love to play that game except that it has too much sex and partial nudity. I only meant to defend violent content in video games. I believe that there should be no sex, or anything like the hot coffee mod in GTA San Andreas. However, violent content in video games should be pumped up to the sky. I hope that clears my views and I think the stupid side of gaming is the side that says video game legislation is a good thing. They're the morons. Violent content in video games should never be restricted to anyone.

Just a heads-up:

505 Games released a statement on this whole controversy thing.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=70127

"505 Games has announced that it will be inviting politicians and journalists to the game for themselves by attending a preview presentation, to be held on November 23 in Milan."

Good on 'em.